Traction increasing system

ABSTRACT

A vehicular wheel assembly includes a tire comprising circumferentially spaced segments each including a vacuum port. A plurality of valving assemblies are mounted within the tire for actuation upon inward deflection of the tire to connect a vacuum source to each vacuum port when the segment of the tire incorporating the vacuum port is in engagement with a surface. By this means a partial vacuum is maintained between the contact area of the tire and the surface whereby traction between the tire and the surface is markedly increased.

United States Patent [1 Bryan, Jr.

[ TRACTION INCREASING SYSTEM [76] inventor: John F. Bryan, Jr., 3212Mapleleaf Circle, Dallas, Tex. 75233 22 Filed: on. 4, 1971 21 Appl. No.:186,080

[52] US. Cl. 152/208 [51] Int. Cl. B60c 1/00 [58] Field of Search152/208 [5 6] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS GreatBritain 152/208 June 26, 1973 Primary Examiner-James B. MarbertAttorneyRichards, Harris & Hubbard [5 7 ABSTRACT A vehicular wheelassembly includes a tire comprising circumferentially spaced segmentseach including a vacuum port. A plurality of valving assemblies aremounted within the tire for actuation upon inward deflection of the tireto connect a vacuum source to each vacuum port when the segment of thetire incorporating the vacuum port is in engagement with a surface. Bythis means a partial vacuum is maintained between the contact area ofthe tire and the surface whereby traction between the tire and thesurface is markedly increased.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEDwuzs ms SHEEI 1 BF 2 VACUUM SOURCEFIG. 2

PATENTEDJUN 28 I975 SHEEI 2 OF 2 n u u U604] FIG. 3

v w 7 (T FIG 5 1 TRACTION INCREASING SYSTEM BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a vehicular wheel assembly, andmore particularly to apparatus for increasing traction between a vehicleand a surface.

As is well known, the acceleration, cornering, braking and generalhandling characteristics of a vehicle depend to a large extent uponmaintaining traction between the vehicle and whatever surface thevehicle is operated upon. Over the years, various methods of increasingtraction have been proposed. These include numerous tire tread designs,aerodynamic structures responsive to air flowing over a vehicle forimposing a downward thrust on the vehicle, and apparatus forestablishing a vacuum between a vehicle and a surface. However,notwithstanding the foregoing and other attempts at improving traction,a need exists for a workable system for increasing traction between avehicle tire and a surface.

The present invention comprises a novel vehicular wheel assembly whichfunctions to increase traction between a vehicle and a surface bymaintaining a vacuum under the contact area of a tire. In accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tread of a vehicletire comprises circumferentially spaced segments each having a vacuumport formed in it, and structure is provided for establishing a partialvacuum within each vacuum port as its particular segment of the treadcomes into engagement with a surface. By this means the tread is drawntightly into engagement with the surface, whereby traction between thetire and the surface is markedly increased.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of theinvention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a vehicular wheel assemblyincorporating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the tread of the tire of the vehicularwheel assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial transverse sectional view of a vehicular wheelassembly incorporating a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the tread of the tire of the vehicularwheel assembly shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a vehicular wheel assembly comprising afirst embodiment of the invention. The vehicular wheel assembly 10comprises a portion view taken generally along the of an automobile orsimilar vehicle and includes an axle 12 which is rotatably supported anda rim 14 which is supported for rotation with the axle 12. The axle 12is hollow and is coupled to a vacuum source 16 whereby the interior ofthe axle 12 is maintained at a negative pressure or partial vacuum ofabout 10 psi. The axle 12 has a plurality of holes 18 formed in it, andthe rim 14 has an annular cavity 20 formed in it in alignment with theholes 18. By this means vacuum from the source 16 is also established inthe cavity 20 and in a plurality of circular passageways 22 which extendradially outwardly from the annular cavity 20 through the rim 14.

The passageways 22 connect the vacuum source 16 to an annular passageway24 which extends entirely around the rim 14 of the vehicular wheelassembly 10. An annular passageway 26 is disposed just inside thepassageway 24 and also extends entirely around the rim 14. Thepassageway 26 is connected to the passageway 24 by a slot 28 but isnormally sealed by a resilient ring 30 formed from soft rubber or thelike. The configuration of the passageways 24 and 26, the slot 28 andthe ring 30 comprises an important feature of the present invention inthat by means of the construction shown in the Drawings, the ring 30functions to seal the slot 28 under the action of three separate anddistinct forces, i.e., its own resiliency, the vacuum in the passageway24, and centrifugal force which occurs when the rim 14 is rotated.

. The vehicular wheel assembly 10 further includes a tire 32 that ismounted on the rim 14 by conventional means. The tire 32 comprises apair of radially extending side walls 34 and an axially extending tread36 which is connected between the outer edges of the side walls 34. Thetread 36 comprises a series of circumferentially spaced segments eachhaving a vacuum port 38 formed in it. A pair of sealing lips 40 areformed along the edges of the tread 36 at the intersection of the treadwith the side walls 34 of the tire 32.

The vacuum ports 38 extend entirely across the tread 36 of the tire 32into communication with passageways 42 formed in the side walls 34 ofthe tire. The passageways 42 are individual to one of the vacuum ports38 and extend upwardly into communication with passageways 44 formed inthe rim 14. The passageways 44 are also individual to one of the vacuumports 38 and extend into communication with the annular passageway 26formed in the rim 14.

A plurality of valving assemblies 46 are mounted within the tire 32 foractuation to connect the vacuum ports 38 to the vacuum source 16. Eachvalving assembly 46 is individual to one of the vacuum ports 38 andincludes a housing 48 which is supported by the rim 14. A rod 50 issupported for sliding movement relative to the housing 48 against theaction of an elastomeric member 52 which functions as a combined sealand spring for the valving assembly 46. A foot 54 is secured to one endof the rod 50 by a resilient coupling 56 and is positioned in engagementwith the interior of the tread 36 of the tire 32. The opposite end ofthe rod 50 is positioned in engagement with the resilient ring 30, Thus,upon movement of the rod 50 radially inwardly relative to the rim 14, aportion of the resilient ring 30 is displaced, whereby the vacuum port38 corresponding to the valving assembly 46 incorporating the rod 50 isconnected to the vacuum source 16 through the passageway 42, thepassageway 44, the annular passageway 26, the slot 28, the annularpassageway 24, the passageways 22, the annular cavity 20, the holes 18,and the axle 12.

The operation of the vehicular wheel assembly 10 will be betterunderstood by referring to FIG. 2. The feet 54 of the valving assemblies46 are retained in engagement with the interior of the tread 36 of thetire 32 by the resiliency of the elastomeric member 52 and bycentrifugal force. The combined lengths of the feet 54 and the rods 50of the valving assemblies 46 is such that the resilient ring 30 isnormally positioned to seal the slot 28. Thus, the vacuum ports 38formed in segments of the tread 36 which are out of engagement with asurface are maintained at atmospheric pressure.

As a particular segment of the tread 36 moves into engagement with asurface it is deflected inwardly due to the weight of the vehicleincorporating the vehicular wheel assembly 10. By this means the foot 54and the rod 50 of the valving assembly 46 corresponding to the segmentare forced inwardly against the action of the elastomeric member 52 andagainst centrifugal force. As the rod 50 is moved inwardly, it functionsto displace a portion of the resilient ring 30 from sealing engagementwith the slot 28. By this means a portion of the annular passageway 26is coupled to the annular passageway 24 through the slot 28. Since thepassageway 44 corresponding to the rod 50 that has been displacedinwardly extends into communication with the passageway 26, this actioncouples the vacuum ports 38 of the particular segment of the tread 36 ofthe tire 32 to the vacuum source 16.

Each vacuum port 38 remains coupled to the vacuum source 16 so long asits particular segment of the tread 36 remains in contact withthe'surface. During this period the resilient coupling 56 yieldsslightly to allow the foot 54 to remain engaged with the interior of thetread 36. As the particular segment of the tread 36 moves out of contactwith the surface, the foot 54 and the rod 50 are displaced outwardly bythe action of the elastomeric member 52 and by centrifugal force. Thispermits the portion of the resilient ring corresponding to theparticular segment of the tread 36 to re-engage the slot 28, whereby thecoupling between the vacuum port 38 of the particular segment of thetread and the vacuum source 16 is broken. Of course, the connection ofthe vacuum port 38 to the vacuum source 16 is reestablished as soon asthe particular segment of the tread incorporating the vacuum port hasrotated sufficiently to re-engage the surface.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a portion of the ground engaging surface of thetread 36 of the tire 32 of the vehicular wheel assembly 10 is shown. Thetread 36 comprises a series of circumferentially spaced segments eachincorporating one of the vacuum ports 38. Each vacuum port 38 in turncomprises a main portion 58 which extends transversely acrosssubstantially the entire width of the tread 36 and a plurality offingers 60 which extend circumferentially of the tread 36. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, the shape and the length of thefingers 60 of the vacuum ports 38 may be varied in order to adapt thetire 32 to a particular surface. It will be further appreciated that thefingers 60 of adjacent vacuum ports 38 may be interleaved, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that in the practice of thepresent invention the valving assemblies 46 function to establish apartial vacuum in each vacuum port 38 of the tread 36 of the tire 32 asthe segment of the tread incorporating the vacuum port comes intoengagement with a surface and to establish atmospheric pressure in eachvacuum port 38 when the segment of the tread incorporating the vacuumport moves out of engagement with the surface. By this means a partialvacuum is constantly maintained under the contact area of the tire 32.Thus, the tire is held tightly in engagement with the surface by vacuumattraction, whereby traction between the tire and the surface ismarkedly increased. As will be readily understood, such increasedtraction results in a vast improvement in the acceleration, cornering,braking and general handling characteristics of a vehicle incorporatingthe invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a vehicular wheel assembly 10'incorporating a second embodiment of the invention. The vehicular wheelassembly 10' comprises an axle and a rim 14' constructed substantiallyidentically to the axle 12 and the rim 14 shown in FIG. 1. The wheelassembly 10' further comprises a tire 32 which is mounted on the rim 14'by conventional means. The tire 32 comprises radially extending sidewalls 34 and an axially extending tread 36' which is connected betweenthe outer edges of the side walls 34'.

The tread 36 of the tire 32' has a plurality of vacuum ports 38' formedtherein. The second embodiment of the invention differs from the firstembodiment of the invention primarily in that the vacuum ports 38' areconnected to passageways 44 formed in the rim 14 by means of tubes 62that extend along the outer surface of the side walls 34 of the tire 32.The tubes 62 extend into the passageways 44' and into passageways 64which extend through the extreme outer portions of the side walls 34' toconnect the tubes 62 to the vacuum ports 38'.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a portion of the contact surfaceof thetread 36' of the tire 32'. In accordance with the secondembodiment of the invention, the number of vacuum ports 38'is-considerably in excess of the number of valving assemblies. Thispermits the tubes 62 to be inserted into selected passageways 64 inorder to advance or retard the application of vacuum to the contact areaof the tire 32'. By this means the tire 32' may be adapted to therequirements of particular surfaces. Other means of advancing andretarding the application of vacuum to the contact area of the tireswill readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that in accordance with thepresent invention, a vehicular wheel assembly comprises vacuum portsformed in the tread of a tire, a source of vacuum, and valving structurefor connecting the source of vacuum to each vacuum port as the segmentof the tread of the tire incorporating the vacuum port engages asurface. By this means a vacuum is maintained under the contact area ofthe tire, whereby traction between the tire and the surface is markedlyincreased. This in turn results in improved acceleration, cornering,braking and general handling characteristics in a vehicle havingvehicular wheel assemblies incorporating the present invention.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of rearrangement,modification, and substitution of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of increasing traction between a vehicle tire and a surfacecomprising continuously connecting a source of vacuum to the contactarea of the tire and thereby maintaining a partial vacuum between thecontact area of the tire and the surface.

2. The traction increasing method according to claim 1 wherein the tirecomprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments eachincluding a vacuum port and wherein the vacuum establishing step iscarried out by connecting the source of vacuum to each vacuum port asthe segment comes into engagement with the surface.

3. The method of increasing traction according to claim 2 wherein thevacuum establishing step is carried out by establishing a vacuum in eachvacuum port in response to inward deflection of its segment of the tire.

4. In a vehicle of the type including wheel assemblies which support thevehicle for movement along a surface, the improvement comprising:

a source of vacuum; tires for the wheel assemblies each includingradially extending side walls and a tread extending axially between theside walls, said tread comprising a series of circumferentially spacedsegments each having a vacuum port formed therein; and means connectingthe source of vacuum to the vacuum port of each segment when the segmentis in contact with the surface and thereby continuously maintaining apartial vacuum under the contact area of the tire.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the vacuum establishingmeans is responsive to enagement of each segment with the surface toconnect the vacuum port of the segment with the source of vacuum and isresponsive to disengagement of each segment from the surface todisconnect the vacuum port of the segment from the source of vacuum.

6. The improvement according to claim 5 further including means forselectively varying the timing relationship between the operation of thevacuum establishing means and the engagement and disengagement of eachsegment with the surface.

7. The improvement according to claim 4 further including valving meansresponsive to inwardly deflection of each segment for connecting thesource of vacuum to the vacuum port of the segment.

8. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the vacuum establishingmeans includes valving means mounted within the tire for actuation bythe interior of the tread of the tire to control the connection of thevacuum source to the vacuum ports of the tire.

9. A vehicular wheel assembly comprising:

axle means;

a rim supported for rotation with the axle means;

a tire supported on the rim and including a surface engaging treadcomprising circumferentially spaced segments each having a vacuum portformed in it;

a source of vacuum;

a plurality of passageways each extending from the source of vacuum tothe vacuum port of one of the segments of the tread of the tire and eachincluding normally closed valving means; and

means for opening the normally closed valving means of the passagewayextending to the vacuum port of each segment of the tread of the tire asthe segment moves into engagement with a surface and for closing thevalving means as the segment moves out of engagement with the surface.

10. The vehicular wheel assembly according to claim 9 wherein a portionof each of the passageways extends through the rim and wherein thevalving means of each passageway is supported by the rim.

11. The vehicular wheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein the meansfor opening and closing the valving means comprises a member extendingfrom the valving means into engagement with the tire for actuation inresponse to inward deflection of the tread of the tire upon contactbetween the tread and the surface.

12. The vehicular wheel assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tireincludes side walls which extend radially from the rim to the tread andwherein each passageway further includes a portion extending through oneof the side walls of the tire.

13. The vehicular wheel assembly according to claim 1 1 wherein the tirefurther includes side walls which extend radially from the rim to thetread and wherein each passageway further includes a tube extendingalong one side wall of the tire from the portion of the passagewayformed in the rim to the vacuum port of the segment of the treadcorresponding to the passageway.

14. The vehicular wheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein thevalving means of the passageways comprises a passageway extendingcircumferentially around the rim, a resilient ring mounted in thecircumferentially extending passageway and biased outwardly therein, anopening from the passageway into the circumferentially extendingpassageway which is normally sealed by the resilient ring, and means fordeflecting the resilient member inwardly to open the opening between thepassageway and the circumferentially extending passageway.

1. A method of increasing traction between a vehicle tire and a surfacecomprising continuously connecting a source of vacuum to the contactarea of the tire and thereby maintaining a partial vacuum between thecontact area of the tire and the surface.
 2. The traction increasingmethod according to claim 1 wherein the tire comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced segments each including a vacuum port andwherein the vacuum establishing step is carried out by connecting thesource of vacuum to each vacuum port as the segment comes intoengagement with the surface.
 3. The method of increasing tractionaccording to claim 2 wherein the vacuum establishing step is carried outby establishing a vacuum in each vacuum port in response to inwarddeflection of its segment of the tire.
 4. In a vehicle of the typeincluding wheel assemblies which support the vehicle for movement alonga surface, the improvement comprising: a source of vacuum; tires for thewheel assemblies each including radially extending side walls and atread extending axially between the side walls, said tread comprising aseries of circumferentially spaced segments each having a vacuum portformed therein; and means connecting the source of vacuum to the vacuumport of each segment when the segment is in contact with the surface andthereby continuously maintaining a partial vacuum under the contact areaof the tire.
 5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the vacuumestablishing means is responsive to enagement of each segment with thesurface to connect the vacuum port of the segment with the source ofvacuum and is responsive to disengagement of each segment from thesurface to disconnect the vacuum port of the segment from the source ofvacuum.
 6. ThE improvement according to claim 5 further including meansfor selectively varying the timing relationship between the operation ofthe vacuum establishing means and the engagement and disengagement ofeach segment with the surface.
 7. The improvement according to claim 4further including valving means responsive to inwardly deflection ofeach segment for connecting the source of vacuum to the vacuum port ofthe segment.
 8. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the vacuumestablishing means includes valving means mounted within the tire foractuation by the interior of the tread of the tire to control theconnection of the vacuum source to the vacuum ports of the tire.
 9. Avehicular wheel assembly comprising: axle means; a rim supported forrotation with the axle means; a tire supported on the rim and includinga surface engaging tread comprising circumferentially spaced segmentseach having a vacuum port formed in it; a source of vacuum; a pluralityof passageways each extending from the source of vacuum to the vacuumport of one of the segments of the tread of the tire and each includingnormally closed valving means; and means for opening the normally closedvalving means of the passageway extending to the vacuum port of eachsegment of the tread of the tire as the segment moves into engagementwith a surface and for closing the valving means as the segment movesout of engagement with the surface.
 10. The vehicular wheel assemblyaccording to claim 9 wherein a portion of each of the passagewaysextends through the rim and wherein the valving means of each passagewayis supported by the rim.
 11. The vehicular wheel assembly according toclaim 10 wherein the means for opening and closing the valving meanscomprises a member extending from the valving means into engagement withthe tire for actuation in response to inward deflection of the tread ofthe tire upon contact between the tread and the surface.
 12. Thevehicular wheel assembly according to claim 11 wherein the tire includesside walls which extend radially from the rim to the tread and whereineach passageway further includes a portion extending through one of theside walls of the tire.
 13. The vehicular wheel assembly according toclaim 11 wherein the tire further includes side walls which extendradially from the rim to the tread and wherein each passageway furtherincludes a tube extending along one side wall of the tire from theportion of the passageway formed in the rim to the vacuum port of thesegment of the tread corresponding to the passageway.
 14. The vehicularwheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein the valving means of thepassageways comprises a passageway extending circumferentially aroundthe rim, a resilient ring mounted in the circumferentially extendingpassageway and biased outwardly therein, an opening from the passagewayinto the circumferentially extending passageway which is normally sealedby the resilient ring, and means for deflecting the resilient memberinwardly to open the opening between the passageway and thecircumferentially extending passageway.